Combination sewing template and clamp



May 30, 1961 J. J. KELLY COMBINATION SEWING TEMPLATE AND CLAMP Filed Oct. 22, 1957 INVENTOR \JoHN J. KELLY ATTORNEY Unite COIVIBINATION SEWHIG TEMPLATE AND CLAlVIP Filed Oct. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 691,716

1 Claim. (Cl. 269-102) This invention relates generally to apparatus for facilitating sewing operations and more particularly to improvements in devices for clamping work together and serving as templates for guiding the operator in sewing the work and trimming the same to size.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device that is adapted to facilitate fabrication of articles which may be sewn together and trimmed in wrong side out condition and subsequently turned right side out.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective device operable for securely holding the work while it is sewn and trimmed, without the cloth slipping or drawing out of shape.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of an exemplary device constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the device being shown loaded with work to be sewn and trimmed.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 1, the device being shown loaded with the work sewn and trimmed.

Figure 3 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view of the device, showing the device loaded with work and open.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Figure 5, but showing the work stitched.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section showing the sewing operation partially executed.

Figure 7 is the same as Figure 6, but shows the sewing operation completed.

The exemplary device constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention is made of a single sheet of suitably heavy sheet metal. The sheet is folded back upon itself along a transversely extending line to thereby form mutually overlying top and bottom sections respectively designated 10 and 11.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, the top section 10 is provided with the outline of a dress. The edge of the top section at the hem line has a straight section 13 that terminates at opposite ends in curved sections 14-14. The opposite side edges of the top section 10 converge, as at 15-15, from the hem line to the waist line and then diverge, as at 16-16, respectively to a pair of shoulder line edges 17-17. The latter converge to a curved neck line edge718.

'Now referring particularly to Figure 2, the bottom section 11 is provided with generally the same outline as the top section 10. The edge of the bottom section 11 at the hem line matches the edge of the top section States atent O 10 at the hem line, the curved portions thereof being respectively designated 19-19. The opposite side edges of the bottom section 11 converge, as at 20-20, from the hem line to the waist line, and then diverge, as at 21-21, respectively to points, respectively designated 22-22, beyond the waist line. The opposite side edges 20-20 of the bottom section 11 extend parallel to and are set back somewhat respectively from the opposite side edges 15-15 of the top section 10, and the opposite side edges 21-21 of the bottom section 11 extend parallel to and are set back somewhat respectively from the opposite side edges 16-16 of the top section 10'. The opposite side edges of the bottom section 11 continue respectively from the edges 22-22 toward the top of the device, as at 23-23, in registry with the opposite side edges 16-16 of the top section 10, to a pair of shoulder line edges 2424. The latter extend parallel to and are set back somewhat respectively from the shoulder line edges 17-17 of the top section 10 and converge to a neck line edge 25 that matches the neck line edge 18 of the top section 10. The marginal portions of the top section 10 that overhang the opposite side edges 20-20 and 21-21 and the shoulder line edges 24-24 of the bottom section 11 are provided with a series of spaced equally, elongated apertures 26.

The top and bottom sections 10 and 11 of the device are folded upon the transversely extending line 13, in consequence of which the sections 10 and 11 are efiectively hinged together and the device may be opened and closed like a book.

In the use of the device, two plies of material A and B are sandwiched between the top and bottom sections 10 and 11. If desired, a plurality of temporary ties C may be passed through registering apertures (not shown) that are formed in the top and bottom sections 10 and 11 for securing the material plies A and B against shifting relative to the device during the sewing and trimming operations. The material plies A and B are now sewn together in the manner now to be described.

Referring particularly to Figure 6, the needle, designated D, is passed back and forth successively through the apertures 26. First, the needle is passed upwardly from bottom to top through a selected aperture 26, then back again downwardly from top to bottom through the same aperture 26. This procedure is repeated from aperture to aperture from one end of each series thereof to the other to thereby form four separate lines of stitching 27. When the stitching operation is completed, the work is trimmed by cutting off excess material along the peripherally extending edge of the top section 10, using the edge aforesaid as a guide. Now the several temporary ties C are removed, the top and bottom sections 10 and 11 are separated, and the work removed, as best shown in Figure 4. Finally, the work, initially assembled in wrong side out condition, is turned right side out to present finished seams along both sides and the top thereof, interrupted by neck and arm openings.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles thereof. For example, the device may be adapted for fabricating a pair of trousers, or a pillow case, instead of a dress. In addition, it may be made of a sheet of plastic material, instead of sheet metal. Furthermore, the top and bottom sections may be made separately and then fastened together by means of a hinge pin, or otherwise. Still further, temporary ties are not essential because the top and bottom sections may be held together by finger pressure only. Accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claim.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

In a device adapted for use in the fabrication of multi ply articles that are assembled in wrong side out condition, sewed together along the edges thereof and finally turned right side out, a pair of relatively swingable mutually overlying sheet metal plate sections hinged together and adapted for receiving therebetween and clamping together the plies of material to be sewed together in Wrong side out condition, one of said sections having an outline the same in form as, but somewhat larger in size than, the desired finished outline of the work, being thereby adapted for use as a template for trimming the Work, said section being provided with a series of first apertures strung out along a marginal area thereof in a line parallel to the edge of said marginal area and coinciding with the desired finished outline of the work, said marginal area being disposed in outwardly overhanging relation to the underlying edge of the other plate section, and said first apertures being adapted for passage of a needle therethrough, said plate sections having a plurality of registrable second apertures therethrough spaced inwardly of the aforesaid first apertures strung out along said marginal area through which temporary ties may be passed to secure together the clamped plies of material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

